Hand over finances to independent experts: Sarna

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

In the wake of potential layoffs by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Delhi president Paramjit Singh Sarna today demanded that the “debt-ridden” DSGMC must immediately hand over financial control of religious and institutional funds to independent Sikh experts.

Alleging large-scale corruption in the DSGMC funds, the former DSGMC chief appealed to Guru Panth that any political party found guilty of perpetrating financial fraud in state audit must be held accountable and made to pay for the losses.

Sarna also demanded a thorough audit of gurdwara funds either by the CAG or by the Delhi Government alleging the Badals-controlled DSGMC management has pushed the Sikh body into heavy debts, primarily because of “gross mismanagement” of gurdwara funds.

Sarna pointed out at reports of the DSGMC management’s plans of retrenchment of 400 staff saying “for the first time ever in the Sikh history, a threat about retrenchment of this scale has been floated by the insiders of a committee administering historical gurdwaras and educational establishments”.

Now that this severe crisis has unfolded, let independent experts drawn from non-political organisations which includes retired Sikh chairperson of banks, retired government auditors and charted accountants to take over the financial control right away, the president demanded.

“You (SAD-Badal) are behaving worse than your masters in the central government, who are blaming the UPA for the 11,500-crore PNB scam. 

“Your tactic is worse because the funds involved in this case have come from Guru Ki Sangat, which you looted like your personal estate,” Sarna alleged.